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Manon Des Sources (1986) Certificate PG

Manon Des Sources

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Rated 4.0 stars
Average rating
(77%)
 
Starring: Yves Montand | Daniel Auteuil | Emmanuelle Beart | Elisabeth Depardieu | Hippolyte Girardot
Director: Claude Berri
Studio: PATHE DISTRIBUTION
Run time: 109 mins
Genres: Drama | World Cinema
Languages: French
Subtitles: English
Released: March 27, 2000

The second of two parts of the classic Marcel Pagnol story set in France in the mid-1920's. The daughter of a ruined farmer discovers the identity of the men who stopped up her father's well and plots revenge, eventually uncovering long forgotten family secrets. Follows "Jean De Florette."

Rating of 4 stars out of 5
Radio Times

The conclusion of Claude Berri's adaptation of Marcel Pagnol's L'Eau des Collines takes place ten years after the death of Jean de Florette. Once more the photography borders on the sublime and the direction is paced to suit life under the scorching sun. The script is less convincing, however, than that of its predecessor, with melodrama seeping into too many scenes and an uncomfortable number of loose ends being over-neatly tied up in the closing moments. Yves Montand and Daniel Auteuil maintain their quality of performance, with the latter particularly impressive as he tries to atone for the wrong done to Manon (Emmanuelle Béart) and her family.

Rating of 3 stars out of 5
Halliwell's Film Guide

Absorbing drama of rural life, impeccably performed and directed.

Highest rated reviews

16 out of 16 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5.0 stars
Clever stuff

dvd addicted monkey from beautiful south wales, 25th February, 2004

This sequel picks up the story circa 9 years where Jean De Florette ends.

You certainly need to see the first in order to appreciate the nuances and plot of the 2nd. For continuity purposes the majority of the cast are unchanged and importantly for me the original score is also intact.

If you thought Jean de Florette was a little sombre, you will understand that this digs you down a tad further. The pain for both Pabet and his nephew are palpable and I certainly felt that their selfishness had been repaid with significant interest on top.

This sequel is certainly on par with the first and in essence you should try to watch both films back to back a la Tarrantino's Kill Bill series!

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8 out of 8 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5.0 stars
Put this top of your list

RustyT from Dorset, 27th April, 2004

This is one of those wonderful films that comes along once in a blue moon. Here the action is paced right with a clear story line and a powerful plot that makes excellent sense if you've followed part 1. Add to that music and photography of the highest quality.

Manon has lost her father to ill fortune and knows why and how. But she is something of an outlaw and can do nothing about the wrongs that caused his death.

In her pastoral wanderings, she comes to understand the vital features of the water table and is able to alter the lives of the villagers for better and for worse.

There is a romantic turn, completely fitting, which affirms what ought to happen a lot more in real life, that is, that the wrongdoers come to grief and the innocent triumph. It happens here.

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5 out of 5 people found the following review helpful:

Rated 5.0 stars
Anyone for some Stella?

Coolbean from London, 26th June, 2004

According to the blurb on the DVD case - Jean De Florette - which this is the sequel to, is the most popular foreign language film in the world ever. That is quite a claim, but after seeing this I can understand why.

This film is moving and simply a must see if you like foreign films. My only wish is that I watched Jean De Florette first.

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Most recent reviews

Rated 4.0 stars
Great French Cinema

A Customer from OXON, 8th March, 2010

Having watched Part 1 several weeks ago, I was really keen to see this film and it didn't disappoint. Great charactors, great plot, great direction and camerawork. Recommended viewing.

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Rated 5.0 stars
Manon des Sources

A Customer from Derby, 14th February, 2010

Excellent, compelling story where the setting and acting complement each other perfectly. Languid, sad, utterly beautiful - completes the story of Jean de Florette with if anything even greater conviction. Wonderful!

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Rated 5.0 stars
Wonderful

A Customer from Somerset UK, 19th January, 2010

Watch the first part Jean de Florette first. Just to get into the story. Another wonderful film. We found it sad and sometimes depressing. The acting was excellent. The Provence scenery and filming was superb.

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Rated 4.0 stars
Excellent follow on.

MadMikey from , 18th January, 2010

To really get the full impact of this film, you first need to watch the first part of the story, the superb Jean de Florette. Whilst Manon is nearly as good, it would not have the same impact in its own right without the first film. In some ways it covers some of the same ground. However by the end of the film you will feel very satisfied at having wacthed it. Daniel Auteuil and Yves Montand are once again superb.

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